Evolution of ageing.
TL;DR: This work has shown that mortality may be due to an energy-saving strategy of reduced error regulation in somatic cells, which supports Orgel's ‘error catastrophe’ hypothesis and offers a new basis for the study of normal and abnormal ageing syndromes and of apparently immortal transformed cell lines.
Abstract: An evolutionary view of ageing suggests that mortality may be due to an energy-saving strategy of reduced error regulation in somatic cells. This supports Orgel's ‘error catastrophe’ hypothesis and offers a new basis for the study of normal and abnormal ageing syndromes and of apparently immortal transformed cell lines.
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TL;DR: The status of the free radical theory of aging is reviewed, by categorizing the literature in terms of the various types of experiments that have been performed, which include phenomenological measurements of age-associated oxidative stress, interspecies comparisons, dietary restriction, and the ongoing elucidation of the role of active oxygen in biology.
Abstract: Beckman, Kenneth B., and Bruce N. Ames. The Free Radical Theory of Aging Matures. Physiol. Rev. 78: 547–581, 1998. — The free radical theory of aging, conceived in 1956, has turned 40 and is rapidl...
3,812 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1980TL;DR: This chapter discusses the development of models of age-structured populations and the properties of equilibrium populations and their role in the evolution of life-histories.
Abstract: The populations of many species of animals and plants are age-structured, i.e. the individuals present at any one time were born over a range of different times, and their fertility and survival depend on age. The properties of such populations are important for interpreting experiments and observations on the genetics of populations for animal and plant breeding, and for understanding the evolution of features of life-histories such as senescence and time of reproduction. In this new edition Brian Charlesworth provides a comprehensive review of the basic mathematical theory of the demography and genetics of age-structured populations. The mathematical level of the book is such that it will be accessible to anyone with a knowledge of basic calculus and linear algebra.
1,785 citations
Cites background from "Evolution of ageing."
...Roff (1992, pp. 264-9) has discussed the evidence from studies of a variety of species as to whether this prediction is met. There are considerable difficulties in measuring reproductive effort, and use has frequently to be made of indices such as the ratio of weight of gonads to somatic parts, which are not always valid measures. Any conclusions must therefore be treated cautiously. Roff (1991) showed that in many fish species the sufficient condition for reproductive effort to increase with age of Charlesworth and Leon (1976) is met: the product of growth and survival for minimal reproductive effort, P(0), exceeds one....
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TL;DR: To understand the cell and molecular basis of aging is to unravel the multiplicity of mechanisms causing damage to accumulate and the complex array of systems working to keep damage at bay.
1,699 citations
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TL;DR: The evolutionary theory of ageing explains why ageing occurs and helps to clarify how the genome shapes the ageing process, thereby aiding the study of the genetic factors that influence longevity and age-associated diseases.
Abstract: The evolutionary theory of ageing explains why ageing occurs, giving valuable insight into the mechanisms underlying the complex cellular and molecular changes that contribute to senescence. Such understanding also helps to clarify how the genome shapes the ageing process, thereby aiding the study of the genetic factors that influence longevity and age-associated diseases.
1,624 citations
Cites background from "Evolution of ageing."
...This introduces the important idea of a life-history trade-off, which is also a central feature in the third theory, the 'disposable soma' theor...
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TL;DR: The tools of evolutionary biology and ecology are providing new insights into neoplastic progression and the clinical control of cancer.
Abstract: Neoplasms are microcosms of evolution. Within a neoplasm, a mosaic of mutant cells compete for space and resources, evade predation by the immune system and can even cooperate to disperse and colonize new organs. The evolution of neoplastic cells explains both why we get cancer and why it has been so difficult to cure. The tools of evolutionary biology and ecology are providing new insights into neoplastic progression and the clinical control of cancer.
1,586 citations
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Book•
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors take up the concepts of altruistic and selfish behaviour; the genetical definition of selfish interest; the evolution of aggressive behaviour; kinship theory; sex ratio theory; reciprocal altruism; deceit; and the natural selection of sex differences.
Abstract: Science need not be dull and bogged down by jargon, as Richard Dawkins proves in this entertaining look at evolution. The themes he takes up are the concepts of altruistic and selfish behaviour; the genetical definition of selfish interest; the evolution of aggressive behaviour; kinship theory; sex ratio theory; reciprocal altruism; deceit; and the natural selection of sex differences. Readership: general; students of biology, zoology, animal behaviour, psychology.
10,880 citations
TL;DR: A consideration of the cause of the eventual degeneration of these strains leads to the hypothesis that non-cumulative external factors are excluded and that the phenomenon is attributable to intrinsic factors which are expressed as senescence at the cellular level.
7,348 citations
TL;DR: Game theory and computer simulation analyses show, however, that a “limited war” strategy benefits individual animals as well as the species.
Abstract: Conflicts between animals of the same species usually are of “limited war” type, not causing serious injury. This is often explained as due to group or species selection for behaviour benefiting the species rather than individuals. Game theory and computer simulation analyses show, however, that a “limited war” strategy benefits individual animals as well as the species.
5,524 citations
TL;DR: The specificity with which the genetic code is read in protein synthesis, and with which other highly specific biosynthetic reactions take place, can be increased above the level available from free energy differences in intermediates or kinetic barriers by a process defined here as kinetic proofreading.
Abstract: The specificity with which the genetic code is read in protein synthesis, and with which other highly specific biosynthetic reactions take place, can be increased above the level available from free energy differences in intermediates or kinetic barriers by a process defined here as kinetic proofreading. A simple kinetic pathway is described which results in this proofreading when the reaction is strongly but nonspecifically driven, e.g., by phosphate hydrolysis. Protein synthesis, amino acid recognition, and DNA replication, all exhibit the features of this model. In each case, known reactions which otherwise appear to be useless or deleterious complications are seen to be essential to the proofreading function.
1,403 citations
Journal Article•
998 citations